Renewed calls for foster carers

A recruitment campaign has been launched to tackle the shortage

Manx Care is renewing calls for residents to consider becoming foster carers, as a new awareness campaign gets underway.

Foster Care Fortnight aims to raise awareness of the care system and issues around a lack of foster carers available here.

Around 80 children are understood to be living in care homes, with only around 20 foster families registered.

Children's Champion Kerry Sharpe emphasises the significance fostering has on a child's life:

'People tend to ask "can I be a foster carer if I'm a single parent?" Absolutely you can. They ask "an I be a foster carer over the age of 45/55?" Absolutely you can.' - Julie Gibney.

One person who's deeply involved in tackling that is Julie Gibney, the Assistant Director for Children and Families at Manx Care:

The theme of the recruitment campaign is 'moments', with carers sharing their experiences.

'Just seeing the little one thrive... it's made my year.' - Mel Read, Foster Carer.

Mel Read, who has been a foster carer for around a year-and-a-half, explained to Manx Radio why she signed up to look after a child and what the process entails:

Manx Care's Family Placement Service will be continuing pop-up events across the Island to speak with those interested in becoming a foster parent.

Today the team will be at Tynwald Mills from 11am until 2pm. (17 May)

Next week they'll be at a number of locations around Douglas:

Monday 20 May – Tesco Douglas 11 -2pm
Wednesday 22 May – NSC 11 - 5pm
Thursday 23 May – Noa Bakehouse (Santander) 11-1pm
Friday 24 May – Douglas City Centre 10 - 4pm